DOVER, Del. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Jack Markell has come out in support of an effort to repeal Delaware's death penalty.
Markell said Thursday that if a bill to abolish capital punishment reaches his desk, he would sign it.
In recent years, Markell has refused to say where he stands on the issue.
But Markell said the recent acknowledgment by the FBI that examiners in its microscopic hair comparison unit gave flawed testimony in more than 250 criminal cases, including death penalty cases, before 2000, helped him reach a decision.
Legislation to abolish the state's death penalty cleared the state Senate last month on an 11-9 vote last month but faces an uphill battle in the House, where it will be heard in committee next week.
Delaware currently has 15 inmates on death row.
